Now that fall is here and the reading on the thermometer is dropping, many homeowners are worrying about having to pay heating bills that may be at budget-busting levels. If you are concerned about paying too much for heat this winter, here are three ways to heat your home for less which won’t push up your heating cost.

Install a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to lower the temperature inside your home while you are asleep or away at work to save you a considerable bit of money on your heating bill. Many homeowners choose to replace their existing thermostats with new programmable models because it’s relatively easy to do and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. You can pick up such a thermostat for as low as $40 at most any home improvement store. A programmable thermostat can save you thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your heating system plus using one may make you eligible for a government tax benefit that rewards homeowners for being energy-efficient.

Install a Gel Burning Fireplace
Gel fuel fireplaces are becoming very popular among homeowners who wish to add both charm and warmth to rooms inside their homes. While this type of a fireplace cannot add warmth to your entire home, it can efficiently warm a standard sized room. These fireplaces come in a variety of sizes and styles from inserts which fit over your existing fireplace to small portable and wall-mounted varieties.

Because fireplace gel fuel is used with this home heating option, there is no annoying smoke nor ashes to clean up, making this sort of fireplace clean and trouble-free. It is quite easy to put a ventless gel fireplace in yourself if you consider yourself handy. If you have a room inside your home that is drafty and chilly as many people do, a gel burning fireplace can provide you with the warmth needed to make that room comfortable to spend time in.

Don’t Let Heat Escape Unnecessarily
An effective way to keep your heating costs in check is to be sure you’re not letting the warmth inside your home escape. Take the time to go through your home to fill any cracks you find around doors, windows and walls with caulking that costs just a few dollars a tube. If there are rooms inside your home which you don’t use regularly, close the vents and doors. Putting weather stripping around all your windows and doors will seal in warm air and keep the cold air outside where it belongs. If you have doors that you don’t use during the wintertime, buy and install plastic sheeting kits and cover them as doing so will eliminate drafts and keep the heat inside your home.

These are three very good ways to lower your heating bills this winter. There are other measures you should take as well that can leave you with more money to spend on yourself this winter instead of paying a huge gas or electric bill. One thing many homeowners fail to do is to have their furnace checked by a professional each fall to ensure that it’s running optimally and efficiently. You also should change the filter in your furnace and wrap your water heater in insulation as both can help lower your energy bill.